A woman was found dead near Yellowstone National Park on Saturday, apparently having died after an encounter with a bear on a hiking trail.

Game wardens with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks were notified on Saturday morning that a hiker had found a dead woman, who had injuries consistent with a bear attack, on Buttermilk Trail, located about eight miles west of the town West Yellowstone. Tracks from an adult grizzly bear and at least one cub were also located near the site, according to a Monday statement from the department.

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"The Custer Gallatin National Forest implemented an emergency closure of the area as a safety precaution," read the statement. "FWP bear specialists and game wardens notified residents and visitors nearby of the bear activity and the U.S. Forest Service closure. They then began conducting capture operations due to the incident’s proximity to residences, campgrounds, and a high-use OHV trail system. No bears have been captured to date. FWP staff also searched the area from an aircraft and did not locate any bears."

It is believed that the hiker was alone during the bear encounter, and no bear spray or firearms were found at the scene. The incident is still under joint investigation by the department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The department warned that grizzly bear populations in Montana "continue to become denser and more widespread" in the state, meaning that the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them more frequently increases each year.

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To avoid an encounter with a bear, state residents and vacationers are advised to carry bear spray, travel in groups when possible, and follow proper food storage procedures. Officials also advise against feeding wildlife and strongly urge hikers never to approach a bear.

The bear attack over the weekend comes shortly after an Arizona woman was rushed to the hospital on July 17 after she was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park. The incident occurred in the morning near the Lake Lodge Cabins on the north shore of Yellowstone Lake, according to a statement from the park.